by bwalsh Tue May 07, 2019 1:02 pmHello, I've owned three Chevy vans over the years, a 1979 1/2 ton cargo, a 1979 1 ton shorty Pathfinder 4X4 conversion that had been paneled and carpeted on the inside and taken to shows by the original owner and a 1994 3/4 ton cargo I converted into a nice camper.
I've been looking for another van since I sold my last one a few years back. Everyone thinks their ragged out 260,000 mile van is priceless due to the "van life" BS. I either buy new or find something that is priced so low I don't care if it needs some money thrown at it.
Anyway, I've been looking for something older(and reasonably priced). Something easy to work on! I'm a member of a motorcycle forum that has a sub section called "shiny things". In that section is a thread called "Abandoned, retired and rusty relics...old vehicles". What guy doesn't like looking at old vehicles!
Anyway, about two months ago a member posted this photo...
with the caption, "This has been sitting here for over a decade. The house is being sold. I wonder whats going to become of it.
I replied back, "Location?".
He messaged me the address. I looked on that Counties GIS map(interactive tax map) and found out who the owner was. I contacted him and left a message. Within ten minutes he called back. We spoke for over an hour.
It's a 1967 Dodge A108. It was his dads van, who purchased it new. He took it to the dealer or other service shops for all of the servicing. He drove it until he passed away in 1987. The Son drove it about 100 miles a year from then until December 2000 when it needed an inspection. It failed due to the windshield glass(plastic) fogging up. He wasn't into vans and only kept it due to sentimental reasons, so instead of putting more money into it...he parked it, on pavement. Where you see it in the photo above is where it sat until March.
He said he'd had numerous people asking about the van but never wanted to part with it. But now they are getting ready to fix the house up and put it on the market. He said, "I just want it to go to a good home so I''ll tell you what, I"ll just give it to you".
Needless to say I was there two days later with a trailer! Remember, I'd only seen that one photo but who can refuse free? This is what it looked like when I got there. Looking a little rough around the edges...
Lichen, mold and moss growing on it...
The previous owner(on the left) and me shaking on the deal!
He told me the speedometer quit working some time before he parked it but it should be under 150,000 miles. More to come!
I've been looking for another van since I sold my last one a few years back. Everyone thinks their ragged out 260,000 mile van is priceless due to the "van life" BS. I either buy new or find something that is priced so low I don't care if it needs some money thrown at it.
Anyway, I've been looking for something older(and reasonably priced). Something easy to work on! I'm a member of a motorcycle forum that has a sub section called "shiny things". In that section is a thread called "Abandoned, retired and rusty relics...old vehicles". What guy doesn't like looking at old vehicles!
Anyway, about two months ago a member posted this photo...
with the caption, "This has been sitting here for over a decade. The house is being sold. I wonder whats going to become of it.
I replied back, "Location?".
He messaged me the address. I looked on that Counties GIS map(interactive tax map) and found out who the owner was. I contacted him and left a message. Within ten minutes he called back. We spoke for over an hour.
It's a 1967 Dodge A108. It was his dads van, who purchased it new. He took it to the dealer or other service shops for all of the servicing. He drove it until he passed away in 1987. The Son drove it about 100 miles a year from then until December 2000 when it needed an inspection. It failed due to the windshield glass(plastic) fogging up. He wasn't into vans and only kept it due to sentimental reasons, so instead of putting more money into it...he parked it, on pavement. Where you see it in the photo above is where it sat until March.
He said he'd had numerous people asking about the van but never wanted to part with it. But now they are getting ready to fix the house up and put it on the market. He said, "I just want it to go to a good home so I''ll tell you what, I"ll just give it to you".
Needless to say I was there two days later with a trailer! Remember, I'd only seen that one photo but who can refuse free? This is what it looked like when I got there. Looking a little rough around the edges...
Lichen, mold and moss growing on it...
The previous owner(on the left) and me shaking on the deal!
He told me the speedometer quit working some time before he parked it but it should be under 150,000 miles. More to come!
